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Schools say no to Facebook, MySpace
BY TAYLOR COLLIER, taylorcollier@miconews.com
The use of computers in schools continues to evolve, and programs to keep the tools safe for students are evolving as well.
Not too long ago Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace didn’t exist. School computers were for school use: writing papers, researching, etc. However, times have changed, and students now are eager to login to their profiles, but due to Paola USD 367 Internet filtering at school, they don’t have the option to do that.
As part of the Child Protection Act, schools are required to implement a filtering system that blocks out Web sites deemed ‘inappropriate’ to view at school, and Paola has done just that — filter.
Web sites, including Facebook and MySpace, are not accessible on school computers, not even for staff. The only somewhat ‘controversial’ site, YouTube, is available for staff use only. And while YouTube includes content some would say is inappropriate, staff members are able to access it for viewing conferences and other uses that may be relevant to a teacher’s class and studies.
Rod Allen, superintendent, has mixed feelings regarding the filtering of Web sites at school.
“Technology is a tool for instruction,” he said. “The importance is finding a balancing act between filtering and allowing sites. (The Internet) is a world we’re teaching kids to enter.”
As part of the filtering, Paola students do not have an e-mail account through the school. Allen feels this could ultimately result in an outlet for bullying and could provide other negative side effects from students being able to communicate in a way that is not ‘out in the open.’ However, student resource officers are available to check what’s going on as far as students’ Web activity.
Students may access their personal e-mail accounts from school with supervision provided in the library and counseling office. Students can open their accounts with a staff override, where their activity is tracked. Students are allowed to do this for purposes such as researching colleges, completing applications and scholarship research.
Web sites are filtered for content, and the schools are in the process of focusing on sites that do and do not need to be screened. For example, teachers can choose a list of sites they feel are appropriate for their class, and the sites that are automatically filtered through the system may become available for viewing, if the sites are seen as useful and informational.
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Not too long ago Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace didn’t exist. School computers were for school use: writing papers, researching, etc. However, times have changed, and students now are eager to login to their profiles, but due to Paola USD 367 Internet filtering at school, they don’t have the option to do that.
As part of the Child Protection Act, schools are required to implement a filtering system that blocks out Web sites deemed ‘inappropriate’ to view at school, and Paola has done just that — filter.
Web sites, including Facebook and MySpace, are not accessible on school computers, not even for staff. The only somewhat ‘controversial’ site, YouTube, is available for staff use only. And while YouTube includes content some would say is inappropriate, staff members are able to access it for viewing conferences and other uses that may be relevant to a teacher’s class and studies.
Rod Allen, superintendent, has mixed feelings regarding the filtering of Web sites at school.
“Technology is a tool for instruction,” he said. “The importance is finding a balancing act between filtering and allowing sites. (The Internet) is a world we’re teaching kids to enter.”
As part of the filtering, Paola students do not have an e-mail account through the school. Allen feels this could ultimately result in an outlet for bullying and could provide other negative side effects from students being able to communicate in a way that is not ‘out in the open.’ However, student resource officers are available to check what’s going on as far as students’ Web activity.
Students may access their personal e-mail accounts from school with supervision provided in the library and counseling office. Students can open their accounts with a staff override, where their activity is tracked. Students are allowed to do this for purposes such as researching colleges, completing applications and scholarship research.
Web sites are filtered for content, and the schools are in the process of focusing on sites that do and do not need to be screened. For example, teachers can choose a list of sites they feel are appropriate for their class, and the sites that are automatically filtered through the system may become available for viewing, if the sites are seen as useful and informational.
Comments on "Schools say no to Facebook, MySpace"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.concerned parent wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:34 AM:
" i think this is stupid. WHen i was in school we had access to those sites after school. do they not get that now? It was always a place for us to just go and stay busy while we waited for our rides home. I think they should allow it after school. Even with monotoring. if they can track who it is and see what they are doin why is it such a problem. "